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| Child Commissioner's abuse report lays basis for balanced debate | Child Commissioner's abuse report lays basis for balanced debate |
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| The interim report into child sexual exploitation by gangs and groups by the Office of the Children's Commisioner is timely, coming just a week after contentious comments in the House of Commons on grooming by Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley in the Bradford district. His reference to 'gangs of Muslim men raping white kids' has certainly earned him headlines, which are always so much-valued by politicians, but the report shows that the picture is much more complex. | The interim report into child sexual exploitation by gangs and groups by the Office of the Children's Commisioner is timely, coming just a week after contentious comments in the House of Commons on grooming by Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley in the Bradford district. His reference to 'gangs of Muslim men raping white kids' has certainly earned him headlines, which are always so much-valued by politicians, but the report shows that the picture is much more complex. |
| The two-year inquiry finds that 2,409 children and young people were confirmed victims of child sexual exploitation in gangs or groups in the 14-month period from August 2010 to October 2011. Critically these appalling criminal acts were not carried out against children from any particular background or part of the country but there was a higher rate of victimisation amongst black and minority ethnic children than had been previously identified; 28% were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. | The two-year inquiry finds that 2,409 children and young people were confirmed victims of child sexual exploitation in gangs or groups in the 14-month period from August 2010 to October 2011. Critically these appalling criminal acts were not carried out against children from any particular background or part of the country but there was a higher rate of victimisation amongst black and minority ethnic children than had been previously identified; 28% were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. |
| The inquiry's warning against viewing the issue through a racial or religious lens is clear on the basis of the following facts: based on current data, perpetrators and victims come from all ethnic groups; the ethnicity and faith of 6/10 perpetrators was not recorded by the police; the assiduous targeting of non-whites could explain the high proportion of Asian perpetrators relative to the size of the population and finally the model of 'Asian grooming' represents just one pattern of child sexual exploitation. | The inquiry's warning against viewing the issue through a racial or religious lens is clear on the basis of the following facts: based on current data, perpetrators and victims come from all ethnic groups; the ethnicity and faith of 6/10 perpetrators was not recorded by the police; the assiduous targeting of non-whites could explain the high proportion of Asian perpetrators relative to the size of the population and finally the model of 'Asian grooming' represents just one pattern of child sexual exploitation. |
| Hopkins has a sizable British Asian population in Keighley, which only recently suffered a visit by the English Defence League whose attempts at destabilising our communities are always on the lookout for succour. The harm of rash comments goes further in risking serious damage to the carefully-constructed efforts by all communities and public institutions in Bradford to re-build trust and confidence following the 2001 riots in the city. | Hopkins has a sizable British Asian population in Keighley, which only recently suffered a visit by the English Defence League whose attempts at destabilising our communities are always on the lookout for succour. The harm of rash comments goes further in risking serious damage to the carefully-constructed efforts by all communities and public institutions in Bradford to re-build trust and confidence following the 2001 riots in the city. |
| Kris Hopkins knows Bradford and the diverse communities that are part of its rich multi-cultural fabric intimately. He was a city councillor between 1998-2010 and was the portfolio holder for social services and council housing, before taking on the corporate portfolio as deputy leader and leader of the council. Throughout his career in local politics, he has worked closely with the police, health representatives and the child safeguarding team. | Kris Hopkins knows Bradford and the diverse communities that are part of its rich multi-cultural fabric intimately. He was a city councillor between 1998-2010 and was the portfolio holder for social services and council housing, before taking on the corporate portfolio as deputy leader and leader of the council. Throughout his career in local politics, he has worked closely with the police, health representatives and the child safeguarding team. |
| Alongside the cases of vulnerable young white girls who are at risk of grooming, he must be aware that young Pakistani and Bangladeshi girls in his constituency are as likely to be sexually exploited, but much less likely to report this heinous crime for family, religious and cultural reasons. By presenting the problem primarily through a white girl/Muslim gang lens, he does victims an injustice and even impedes efforts to keep children safe. | Alongside the cases of vulnerable young white girls who are at risk of grooming, he must be aware that young Pakistani and Bangladeshi girls in his constituency are as likely to be sexually exploited, but much less likely to report this heinous crime for family, religious and cultural reasons. By presenting the problem primarily through a white girl/Muslim gang lens, he does victims an injustice and even impedes efforts to keep children safe. |
| In the context of West Yorkshire, the data from the freedom of information request that my organisation, JUST West Yorkshire, submitted relating to the conviction rate of grooming offences, shows that over the last three years to May 2012, only five Asian men were charged across Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees. The breakdown across ethnic categories is as follows: White (North European) 47, Black, one and Asian, five. JUST has submitted a further freedom of information request for grooming figures up to November 2012. Even if the number of Asian perpetrators shows a spike - as it most likely will in the light of trials due early next year of eight Asian men apprehended on charges of grooming, the data should be used to develop clear intervention strategies to tackle child sexual exploitation using best practice approaches, rather than making the matter a divisive ethnic issue. Those who have worked with Kris Hopkins in local government know him to be a rising star in the Conservative party, but one with only a slim 2940 majority which a 6.1 percent swing would deliver back to Labour in the next General Election. There are many temptations for a politician in such a position. But if he really wishes to scale the political heights, he would do well to remembered his maiden speech in which he declared to his constituents that he has the | In the context of West Yorkshire, the data from the freedom of information request that my organisation, JUST West Yorkshire, submitted relating to the conviction rate of grooming offences, shows that over the last three years to May 2012, only five Asian men were charged across Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees. The breakdown across ethnic categories is as follows: White (North European) 47, Black, one and Asian, five. JUST has submitted a further freedom of information request for grooming figures up to November 2012. Even if the number of Asian perpetrators shows a spike - as it most likely will in the light of trials due early next year of eight Asian men apprehended on charges of grooming, the data should be used to develop clear intervention strategies to tackle child sexual exploitation using best practice approaches, rather than making the matter a divisive ethnic issue. Those who have worked with Kris Hopkins in local government know him to be a rising star in the Conservative party, but one with only a slim 2940 majority which a 6.1 percent swing would deliver back to Labour in the next General Election. There are many temptations for a politician in such a position. But if he really wishes to scale the political heights, he would do well to remembered his maiden speech in which he declared to his constituents that he has the |
| privilege of representing a beautiful place which is immensely diverse, with a huge populace and huge social issues that need to be addressed. | privilege of representing a beautiful place which is immensely diverse, with a huge populace and huge social issues that need to be addressed. |
| Meanwhile, the issue adds to evidence that institutional Islamaphobia has become part of the political culture, embedded in the heart of how governments across the political mainstream have come to view Muslim communities as the 'other.' Senior Whithall sources have challenged the report's findings on the grounds that they are "half-baked" and fail to acknowledge the problem of "Pakistani men systematically targeting young white girls." | Meanwhile, the issue adds to evidence that institutional Islamaphobia has become part of the political culture, embedded in the heart of how governments across the political mainstream have come to view Muslim communities as the 'other.' Senior Whithall sources have challenged the report's findings on the grounds that they are "half-baked" and fail to acknowledge the problem of "Pakistani men systematically targeting young white girls." |
| This disregard of the report's methodology and analysis, which drew on evidence from experts, academics and practitioners, does victims a huge disservice. It also has the potential to undermine the final report which will be published next autumn and will focus on what measures are required to prevent children from being sexually exploited and how they should be implemented. | This disregard of the report's methodology and analysis, which drew on evidence from experts, academics and practitioners, does victims a huge disservice. It also has the potential to undermine the final report which will be published next autumn and will focus on what measures are required to prevent children from being sexually exploited and how they should be implemented. |
| Ratna Lachman is director of JUST West Yorkshire which promotes racial justice, civil liberties and human rights in the north of England. | Ratna Lachman is director of JUST West Yorkshire which promotes racial justice, civil liberties and human rights in the north of England. |
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